DISCOVER TRAVEL WITH MEANING
Silk Trade & Pilgrim Routes of Armenia
A journey from the sophisticated streets of Yerevan to the mountains of Southern Armenia discovering the hidden trade and pilgrim routes and among the ancient and modern villages of rural Armenia
Journey essentials
- 13 days/12 nights from Yerevan
- Internationally and locally led by experts in rural development and Armenia
- 4 nights in a high quality, boutique hotel in Yerevan
- 3 nights in hotels in Southern Armenia (Goris and Yeghegis)
- 5 nights supported camp trekking in Southern Armenia (Supported by 4WD vehicle to transport luggage and equipment)
- 7 days of moderate to hard trekking in total.
Journey dates: 2026
- 17th May to 29th May
Price 2026: US$3,200 (about £2,400) based on single person sharing (excluding flights)
Journey highlights
A scenic, cultural and historic journey
- Historical and cultural sites of the sophisticated city of Yerevan
- Discovering Armenia’s 6000 year old wine making tradition (and collecting modern wine for our journey)
- Traveling to stay at the remote mountain village of Khachik to watch the sun descend behind soaring snow-capped Mount Ararat (5137M)
- Exploring the habitat of the Caucasian Leopard and the impressive Bezoar Goat with WWF community rangers as part of a collaboration to support emerging Ecco-tourism in Armenia
- Pioneering a route through the Vorotan River Gorge that has not been walked by other trekking groups.
- Travelling along hidden trails, village paths and mountain tracks and through natural forest, high mountain pastures and rocky hillsides with stunning views.
- Staying in and exploring the ancient ghost villages that were forcibly evacuated during the soviet era.
- Staying beside mountain villages far from any tourist trail and in villages where groups have never stayed before.
- Having local villagers s host or join us for meals to explore the food, culture, history, legends and modern life of rural Armenia.
- Discovering well known but also hidden ancient churches, monasteries, cave cities and monuments of a truly ancient land.
- Puzzling about the meaning of the prehistoric standing stones of Zorats Karer reputed to be an ancient celestial observatory.
Background of the journey
Our founder, Gavin Anderson, has advised on rural development projects in Armenia for more than 13 years, building relationships with small local development organisations, conservation bodies and mountain communities.
This unique journey was developed in collaboration with a small local rural development organisation (SDA), The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Armenia, local mountain communities and Gevorg Gasparyen a leading mountain climber trek leader, who Gavin first met around 10 years ago when he was working as a veterinarian adviser in hill communities in rural Armenia.
Map of our Journey
Silk Trade and pilgrim routes of Southern Armenia
WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
"Such a brilliant adventure. I loved the mix of trekking and roughing it on the one hand, and luxury and culture on the other, and staying in villages and meeting local people is so much more valuable than the mainstream tourism experience. One of the best holidays I've ever had"
Geraint Roberts
UK
"The trek wasn’t just “a holiday”. Armenian places, people, history, culture and food, the wonderful flora and fauna. We experienced it all in an unforgettable 12 days."
Andy Reeve
UK
Inspiring unique journeys
01
Tour
Coffee growing communities of the Rwenzori Mountains of Uganda
14 days
A journey to the speciality coffee farmers and processors in the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains starting in Kigali and finishing in Entebbe. Experiencing diverse landscapes, amazing wildlife, fascinating cultures and the unforgettable hospitality of equatorial Africa
A collaboration between Glen Lyon Coffee Roasters and Nomadic Skies
2027 Group trip:
- 28th February to 13th March 2027
2028 Group trips:
- February-March 2028 (dates to be confirmed shortly)
02
Tour
The bio-diverse Virunga of South West Uganda
Journey now open for bookings for 2026
An extraordinary journey through one of the most stunning and biodiverse areas of Africa. A trekking journey combining travel by boat, local dug-out canoe travelling to the African Alpine Zone of the high Virunga (over 3600m), through equatorial and cloud forest. Exploring forest and mountain cultures and experiencing incredible wildlife and habitats.
2027:
- January 3rd to 16th: Trekking across the Uganda Gorilla Highlands starting in
- January 3rd to 19th: Trekking trip with an add on to descend to Queen Elizabeth National Park (to view Africa's big game and undertake a Chimpanzee trekking) finishing in Entebbe, Uganda.
NEW: Bespoke trips for groups of 2 to 5
03
Tour
Footsteps of Peter Matthiessen's Snow Leopard
Group Trip
A group trip will be organised for between 8 to 10 people in September / October 2027. Final dates to be confirmed soon. Register interest in this now.
Bespoke Journeys
Journeys for 2 or more people that can be organised with our indigenous guides to explore the journey taken by US author Peter Matthiessen in Dolpo, NW Nepal that was the basis of his iconic 1979 book The Snow Leopard.
Cost:
Bespoke journeys: Based on length and numbers
Group Trip: Price TBC shortly
DATES
- Group Trip: September/October 2027 (dates TBC shortly)
- Bespoke Trips in Spring (May- June) and Autumn (October - November)
newsletter-headline
newsletter-subheadline
Hill Cottage, Mill St, Ullapool,
Wester Ross, Scotland
IV26 2UN
gavin.anderson@nomadicskies.com
Copyright 2018 © Nomadic Skies